Albert e



v A. B. MoGLURE.

" 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

v BUCKLE.

(No Model.)

No. 520,373., PatentediMayZZ, 1894.

. (No Model.) 2 sheetssheet 2.

' A. E. McCLURE.

BUCKLE.

Patented May 22, 1894.

7 tom or plan view of the under side.

UNITED STATES Brion.

ATENT ALBERT E. MOCLURE, OF SEDALIA, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO THE MOO/LURE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 520,373, dated May 22, 1 894. Application filed August 13,1892. Renewed April 16,1894. Serial No. 507,777- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, ALBERT E. MOCLURE, a citizen of theUnited States, residingatSedalia, in the county of Pettis and State of Missouri, have inventedcertain new anduseful Improvements in Buckles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to that class of buckles which dispense with .the ordinary prongs or other devices which perforate the material secured by the buckle, and it has for its object to provide a simple and improved buckle of this character which will possess advantages in point of inexpensiveness and simplicity in construction, ease of adjustment and operation, durability and general efficiency, and which will be structurally adapted for use for a great variety of purposes and in various positions and arrangements.

To these ends, my invention consists in certain improvements in the construction and arrangement of parts, substantially as will be hereinafter fully described and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings-Figure l is a perspective view of a buckle embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a top or plan View of the same. Fig. 3 is a side view. Fig. 4 is a bot- Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view, the operation being illustrated in dotted lines. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view, showing the parts detached. Fig. 8 is a perspective View illustrating a modification. Fig. 9 is a bottom or plan view of the under side of the buckle shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of the modification shown in Figs. 8 and 9. Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing a double form of my improved buckle. Fig. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of the modification shown in Fig. 11.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same letters of reference.

My improved buckle comprises, substantially, two parts, an under or base plate, having a slotted or open portion, and an upper link or movable member pivoted to the base plate and having a cross-bar operating in relation to the open portion of the latter.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the base plate, which has an open front portion, as shown at a, forming a cross-bar, a, at the front end of the plate. The rear end of the plate A may be extended, as shown at A, and in this rearwardly projecting portion may be formed an eye or opening, a adapted to receive an eyelet or other device by which the plate A may be secured to the shoe or other article or device upon which the buckle may be used.

B designates the upper link or member, which is of an open or ring shape, as shown, and comprises a transverse cross-bar, b, which divides the link into two portions, a main portion and outer projecting portion, B. The upper member Bis pivoted or hinged to the base plate A at a point in rear of the open front portion a of the latter, this connection being preferably carried out by means of two ears or lugs, a a bent up from the plate A at the sides of the same and just in rear of the open front end a, which lugs are adapted to receive extensions, 1) 6 at the sides of the rear end of theupper member B. When the upper member B is thus pivotally connected or hinged to the plate A, the transverse dividing cross-bar b is adapted to operate in conjunction with the crossbar a of the base plate, while the outer portion B of the pivoted link B projects beyond the point of juncture of the cross-bar b and cross-bar a and forms a free lifting end by which the pivoted link member B may be raised to permit of the opening of the buckle and the adj ustment of the strap.

In the practical construction of my improved buckle, the projections b b of the linkBwhich form bearings are substantially extensions of the rear cross-bar,b', of the link B, while the outer projecting portion B is formed by a curved front bar, b the link B being thus of skeleton or open form.

The base plate A maybe of slightly curved or convex form, as shown in the accompanying drawings, this being best adapted where the buckle is used uponshoes or in similar positions and arrangements, and theupper link member or plate B is correspondingly curved, but if desired in some of the uses to which my improved buckle is adapted the plates may be flat in shape or otherwise adapted for the most convenient and eifective operation.

The strap or string, S, which is to be secured by the buckle has its end first passed up through the open end portion a of the base plate, then over the dividing cross-bar b of the pivoted link or plate B and downwardly again through the opening a, so that it thus bears upon the cross-bar b and the cross-bar a at the front end of the base plate, and forms a secure fastening the security of which increases with the tension upon the strap. When the member B is lifted upon its pivot, as shown in the drawings, the strap becomes loosened and may be adjusted as desired. Under some circumstances, the free end of the strap S maybe provided with aring,s, as shown in some of the views of the drawings, which will serve to obviate the disengagement of the strap from the buckle.

In Figs. 8, 9, and 10, I have illustrated a modification which consists in providing the rear projecting portion A of the base plate with a slot or opening, 00*, through which a strap may be passed and looped to secure the buckle in position. In carrying out the construction illustrated in this modification, I prefer to form the base plate in skeleton or open form, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 9, the plate being divided by a central cross-piece or portion, a, into two corresponding open ends, a 0. each forming an end cross-bar, a, the upwardly projecting ears or lugs a a being formed at the ends of the central crossbar 0. This form of buckle is especially adapted for use upon the back strap of vests, in the manner shown in Fig. 10, and it may be used for suspender buckles and in similar positions and arrangements.

In Figs. 11 and 12, I have illustrated another modification which consists in a double form of myimproved buckle, the general construction and arrangement being substantially the same as that shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 except that two upper links or members B B, projecting in opposite directions, are pivoted or hinged to the base-plate A, each having its separate bearings upon the base plate or suitable ears or lugs 01, provided at the sides of the same. This form of double buckle is particularly adapted for use as a susponder buckle, for the back strap of vests, for

belts, and for similar positions and arrangements, and serves to obviate the necessity for permanently securing either end of the belt or strap, each end being respectively passed through the buckle in the manner shown in Figs. 5 and .12 and secured byits respective upper link or member B.

In lieu of the ring s,I may provide a stiffening bar or plate, 8', as shown in Figs. 8 and 10, suitably secured at the free end of the strap and adapting the same for convenient passage through the buckle when desired but at the same time preventing accidental detachment of the strap from the buckle. I may also provide a suitable slide, S, for holding the free end of the strap after it is passed through the buckle, as shown in Fig. 8.

In the practical manufacture of my invention as herein shown and described, I prefer to form the two essential members, to wit: the base plate A and pivoted or hinged upper plate or linkB of plate metal, theparts being cast or cut out in proper shape to form the essential construction herein set forth. Itis,

however, obvious that the essential members A and B may be formed of wire or in any other adapted manner.

In adapting my improved buckle for the various specific uses in which it will effectively operate, various modifications or detail changes may be made, as will readily appear to those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains. I therefore do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise construction and arrangement herein shown and specified, but reserve the right to all such variations and modifications as properly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention and the terms of the claims.

I claim as my invention-' 1. As an improved article of manufacture, a buckle comprising a baseplate having an open portion, as at a, forming a cross bar, as at a; and an upper link or member, as B, pivotally mounted at its rear end upon the base plate at a point in rear of the open portion a and provided with a cross bar, as at 6, operating in conjunction with the cross bar a. of the base plate, the outer portion, as B, of the pivoted link member B projecting beyond the point of juncture of the cross bar I) and cross bar a. and forming a free lifting end, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. As an improved article of manufacture, the herein described buckle comprising a base plate, A, having an open portion, a, forming a cross bar, a, and provided with an eye or opening, as at 0. at the end opposite the opening a; and an upper link or member, B, having its rear end pivotally mounted upon the base plate at a point in rear of the opening a and provided with a dividing crossbar, b, adapted to operate in conjunction with the cross bar a and dividing the link into a main portion and an outer portion, B, the latter projecting beyond the point of juncture of the cross bar I) and the cross bar a and forming a free lifting end, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The herein described improved buckle, consisting of the base plate A having the open portion a forming the cross bar a and provided with projecting ears or lugs at its sides and about the center of the base plate between the front open portion a and the rear portion; and the upper link or member end, substantially as and for the purpose set 10 B having the projectionsb by which it is forth. pivotaliy mounted at its rear end in said ears In testimony whereof I affix my signature in or projections, and providedcwith a cross bar presence of two witnesses. 5 b operating in conjunction with the cross bar a and dividing the link B into a. main por- ALBERT MCOLURE' tion and an outer portion which projects be- Witnesses: yond the point of juncture of the cross bar-B J. R. LITTELL,

and the cross bar a and forms a free lifting M. J. MOMAHON. 

